Paradise Lost – Medusa

It is important to have in mind that Paradise Lost emits a feeling of a band that doesn’t feel the need to provoke to be noticed or just to prove a point. Having passed through the fields of doom, gothic and electronic sounds, they have managed to keep their sonic identity – and fan base – intact. From the first notes of “Fearless Skies” I presumed that this is going to be a heavy, new and simultaneously familiar journey. The first track is also the longest to-date, and yet it flows just as great. The track list continues with “Gods Of The Ancient” and “From The Gallows” in which the strongest assets of the album are revealed: Heavy and familiar sounds in a new package. “Longest Winter” is probably the ultimate ode to misery, the quintessence of Paradise Lost. The extensive growls by mr. Holmes and the almighty trademark riffs of Aaron Aedy create a nostalgic atmosphere, since Draconian Times came to mind.

During the self-titled song the melodies of Gregor Mackintosh are more profound through the piano and guitar bridges and solo resulting in the most atmospheric song of the record. And there follows the most up-tempo song “Blood & Chaos” which apart of its decent visual version it is a great opportunity to meet the recent addition to Paradise Lost’s line up, the Finnish drummer Waltteri Väyrynen. Even though he was born 4 years after the debut album“Lost Paradise” was released he seems to team up with the rest of the band decently in the making of the 15th record.

Medusa’s closure is as dynamic as its beginning. Listening to “Until The Grave” I came to realize that this is a record that left me full and satisfied, with the exception of the mix and mastering of Jaime Gomez Arellano which is highly professional, but his point of view not quite my taste. The artwork was created by Branca Studios and reflects exceptionally the album’s aesthetic: Retro feelings, the heaviest vibes of the last decade through a modern, colorful wrap which allows the listener to celebrate terms such as nihilism, misery, death, religious and other philosophical values in a way that only Paradise Lost know to master. (8,5/10)